Guy Verhofstadt

Guy Verhofstadt (11 April 1953-) was Prime Minister of Belgium from 12 July 1999 to 20 March 2008 (succeeding Jean-Luc Dehaene and preceding Yves Leterme) and Leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe from 1 July 2019 (succeeding Graham Watson).

Biography
Guy Verhofstadt was born in Dendermonde, Belgium in 1953, and he worked as secretary to Party for Freedom and Progress president Willy De Clercq before becoming party president in 1982 at the age of 29. In 1985, he was elected to the Chamber of Deputies, and he served as Deputy Prime Minister from 1985 to 1992, serving under Prime Minister Wilfried Martens. Because of his economic views and his young age, he was nicknamed "Baby Thatcher". He was ousted from government in 1992 and became leader of the opposition, and he merged the PVV-PLP into Flemish Liberals and Democrats in 1991. Because of a food scandal which broke out before the 1999 elections, the VLD obtained 22% of the vote and became the largest party in the country, leading to Verhofstadt becoming Prime Minister. He formed the first non-Christian democratic government in Belgium since 1958, and the first one to include green parties. He raised the lowest social alimonies and lowered taxation, although the economy worsened and unemployment rose. In 2003, he opposed the Iraq War, and he formed his second government that same year, this time without the green parties, who were annihilated at the election. By 2007, the people had enough of Verhofstadt, who conceded defeat after the next general election. He took up the job of Senator, and he was elected to the European Parliament in 1999. In 2009, he became leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe.